June 7, 200422 yr Scout's View: Taylor Tankersley By Will Kimmey May 17, 2004 Taylor Tankersley, lhp, Alabama Tankersley was a high-profile closer as a freshman, going 8-5, 2.62 with seven saves. He stumbled a bit with a move to the rotation and an injured wrist his sophomore year, posting a 7-5, 5.88 mark. He began his junior season in the bullpen again, posting three saves without allowing an earned run before earning a starting role again. He has impressed since, going 1-3, 1.98 with 41 strikeouts and 16 walks in 41 innings as a starter. The 6-foot-2 Tankersley has allowed just one earned run in his last 25 1/3 innings. An area scout breaks down Tankersley, who could be the highest drafted Crimson Tide lefthander since Kenny "The Snake" Stabler went in the second round to the Astros in 1968. "He's kind of jumped out some in the last few weeks. He had some good (Southeastern Conference) starts where people have seen him. Heading into the year, he wasn't that high because you couldn't go see him as a swing guy out of the bullpen. Now there's a lot of 'airport talk' about him with people rushing to see him on Sundays. He's a lefthander and a bulldog, so he'll fly off the board. You could see him as high as the sandwich or second round. "He was 88-92 (mph) with his fastball, touching 93 and 94 with average life. He commands his fastball to both sides of the plate. He goes right after hitters. He's aggressive and a bulldog; he kind of reminds me of Al Leiter. He's a lot fresher because he was in the bullpen (earlier in the year) and his pitch counts and innings aren't that high. In short stints out of the bullpen, he was up to 93 or so, but he pitches more at 88-91 with an average fastball as a starter. "He's got an average to solid-average curveball. It's short and quick and looks like a slider, but it's a curveball. He shows an average changeup that has fade to the arm side. He needs the change to be a No. 3 starter in the big leagues, but all three of his pitches are average to above with plus command."
June 7, 200422 yr I cant say I'm exactly excited about our pick. I guess it was signability. They want someone who can be up here quick I guess.
June 7, 200422 yr Not to critique...but why would you spend a first rounder on a potential no. 3 starter???
June 7, 200422 yr Not to critique...but why would you spend a first rounder on a potential no. 3 starter??? or a closer...
June 7, 200422 yr Not to critique...but why would you spend a first rounder on a potential no. 3 starter??? or a closer... True, but he only throws 93.
June 7, 200422 yr Not to critique...but why would you spend a first rounder on a potential no. 3 starter??? or a closer... True, but he only throws 93. 93 mph is good for us, we don't need the catcher hitting the backboards.
June 7, 200422 yr Damn Billy Beane and his ridiculous amount of picks. Landon Powell was a big reach for the first round but I guess he knows what he wants.
June 7, 200422 yr Damn Billy Beane and his ridiculous amount of picks. Damn us and our incredible amount of World Championship banners :shifty
June 7, 200422 yr Damn Billy Beane and his ridiculous amount of picks. He has made a living off of compensation.
June 7, 200422 yr Damn Billy Beane and his ridiculous amount of picks. Landon Powell was a big reach for the first round but I guess he knows what he wants. Ddint powell enter the draft 2 or three years ago out of Apex H.S in NC?
June 7, 200422 yr Not to critique...but why would you spend a first rounder on a potential no. 3 starter??? or a closer... True, but he only throws 93. these things are such a crap shoot so few picks actually end up in the bigs...even first rounders For a guy to make it, even if it's just as a number three starter (which aint bad)...its a success If this guy actually turns out to be a third starter i will be very impressed
June 7, 200422 yr Damn Billy Beane and his ridiculous amount of picks. Landon Powell was a big reach for the first round but I guess he knows what he wants. Ddint powell enter the draft 2 or three years ago out of Apex H.S in NC? yep
June 7, 200422 yr Damn Billy Beane and his ridiculous amount of picks. Landon Powell was a big reach for the first round but I guess he knows what he wants. Ddint powell enter the draft 2 or three years ago out of Apex H.S in NC? yep BA has him pegged 86th of the top 100 overall prospects.
June 7, 200422 yr He's a Lefty With #3 Starter Potential. Can start or be in the Pen. And If lives up to the Comparison of Al Leiter, it'd be great.
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